CYT ProgramJackson, who at the young age of 16, had a serious history of drug dependence and use. His peer group consisted of other drug users and he made average grades in school. During the summer of 2004, he was hospitalized following an alcohol blackout.
Jackson was referred to the Cannibus Youth Treatment (CYT) which provided him useful information, and he enjoyed attending. Although he continues to receive Acudetox treatments at LPH, he has been clean and sober since September, 2004. He joined a local church and is active in the youth program and is teaching himself to play the guitar. He has a new peer group and is making decisions that help him avoid situations that might include drugs. Jackson's grades have improved to the point that he is planning to attend Texas A & M University to major in Engineering. He spends more quality time with his family and appears to like the changes in his lifestyle.
Family Matters—wraps around a student
John would stay locked in his room, lying in his bed for hours at a time throughout the day, never wanting to get out and not knowing why. Not able to go to school, both family and school staff were stuck on how to get sixteen year old John to attend. He felt alone and saw little hope in the world. It was obvious that the Lena Pope Home specialists’ first goal was to help the young man attend school. Identifying some of John’s strengths was a definite move forward. They took some trips to the arcade, carried on long conversations under the hoods of old hot rods, and talked about trick bikes. When they talked about the things John enjoyed, everything about him transformed. They were beginning to focus on solutions based on his strengths. With the collective effort from everyone strategies were developed. The road to regular attendance did not prove easy for anyone as the young man was frustrated at being behind; mom and dad were drained. Day by day, he began to slowly build upon the things that were once important to him. He began to realize that there was a purpose for the things that he needed to do. Over the course of a few months, his relationship with his parents had improved, his attendance was almost perfect, his behavior at school was dramatically better, and he was setting some major goals for himself. He is now about to complete the school year and is completely caught up and looking for a part time job. He has even begun looking at local college classes in the area of automotives, something that he has recognized as a passion.
Family Matters First Offender Program
Ricci is graduating from high school this year. Ricci began his high school career at South Hills. He got into some trouble and ended up going to a treatment facility in Pennsylvania. While there he made some major changes. He continued to play basketball. Upon returning home, it was found that his family was a major portion of his problem. His legal guardian is his maternal aunt. She has many mental health issues and shortly after he returned home she got mad at him and kicked him out of the home. Despite this, he continued to attend high school and play basketball and was home coming king. He then moved in with a cousin in Mansfield and had to fight to get transferred as his aunt would not sign papers to release him. Thankfully, he was 18. He began playing basketball at Timberview. He became their star player and led them to the playoffs. He has maintained excellent grades (despite being in 4 high schools his senior year). He found out that he could not graduate from Timberview due to them being one of the schools that required more credits than the state. While this upset him, he began driving back and forth to OD Wyatt part of the day while continuing to work out with his team mates at Timberview. He will graduate this year and with a good GPA. He was nominated for Prom King at Timberview even though he is fairly new to the school. He is a very out-going kid who is also very smart. He has been offered scholarships to many colleges (state and junior) in Texas and is now deciding which direction he will go. The coaches at Timberview think the world of Ricci as do all of the people who have had the pleasure of working with him. He is a true success! P.S. Ricci states he wants to go to college and major in law or something which would allow him to work with kids "like himself". He remains appreciative of all the help he has received. He is also a very good speaker and might be someone who would be willing to talk to other kids/families.
Foster Care Department
The Clift’s are LPH foster parents who adopted their youngest foster child just before Christmas. Her name is "D." She was a twin born very prematurely in January 2003. Her sister did not survive. She was removed from her biological mother because of abuse—shaken baby syndrome and bruising. The Clift’s were her second foster home placement; one that required primary medical needs to be provided and an apnea monitor to be watched round the clock. In the few months she has been in the Clift’s home she has gained weight, gone off the monitor, overcome some of her feeding problems, and started to talk and interact enthusiastically with her new family. Her future looks bright with this loving, permanent family that will ensure she continues to get the services she requires.
Day Treatment
Joey was placed in Day Treatment when he was 12 years old because of his aggressive behavior with peers and teachers. The LPH behavioral interventionist (BI) learned that Joey's father had recently abandoned the family, that his mother had been raped and subsequently lost her job. Everyday he watched his mother struggle to emotionally and financially trying to support her family. He revealed his own despair and suicidal thoughts to the BI. Thanks to the Home's intervention Joey got back on track academically and behaviorally. And, his mother was helped through referral for job training as well as rape counseling. Today the family is doing well and Joey is successful in the school band, scouts and school.
